Times of Israel reports, “A senior Palestinian official said Saturday that the Ramallah-based leadership has asked Egypt to pressure Hamas over the violent suppression of protests, as a man set himself alight during a third day of demonstrations in Gaza against the terror group and the dire economic conditions in the enclave. PLO Executive Committee member Wasel Abu-Youssef told the Times of Israel that the Palestinian representative to Egypt and the Arab League, Diab al-Louh, has called for an emergency high-level meeting of the regional organization to discuss the situation in Gaza. When asked if the meeting would discuss the violent suppression of protests, Abu Yousef said that it would.”…Palestinians in the Gaza Strip took to the streets on Saturday for the third successive day, with unverified footage emerging which appears to show a protester setting himself alight.”

“According to Channel 12 news, Ahmed Abu Tahn self-immolated after he was unable to pay his rent and was evicted from his home. He was reportedly hospitalized in serious condition. There were also conflicting reports about whether he has died. In response to a video of Hamas forces suppressing demonstrations, a close confidant of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas tweeted his outrage. “This is not the Israeli occupation forces!!”Fatah Central Committee member Hussein al-Sheikh said. “It is the Hamas gangs that are terrorizing and suppressing the hungry in the Gaza Strip.”

“The Ynet news site reported that at least 80 demonstrators affiliated with the Fatah movement had been arrested over the past 24 hours. Palestinian rights groups said Hamas briefly detained four of their researchers as it dispersed protests. On Friday, reports from the coastal enclave said Hamas used live fire to put down demonstrations.” (more…)

Times of Israel reports, ” Reports of live fire as residents of Hamas-ruled enclave…burn tires in rare show of dissent to terror group’s rule”

“Palestinians in the Gaza Strip took to the streets on Friday for the second successive day to protest against Hamas and the dire economic condition in the Strip, with some reports saying the terror group used live fire to put down the demonstrations. The protests came after a night of violence surrounding the Strip, that was sparked when two rockets were fired at Tel Aviv. In response Israel hit more than 100 Hamas targets and Hamas fired seven more rockets into Israel before the two sides reportedly reached a fresh ceasefire.”

“The center of the demonstrations was in Deir el-Balah, where Hebrew media reports said protesters burned tires and blocked one of the central Gaza city’s main roads. Similar protests were also taking place in Khan Younis in the south of the Strip. In video from the demonstrations, protesters could be seen throwing rocks as the sound of apparent gunfire is heard in the background.” (more…)